Legally, Is It Chill To Smoke In The Ocean?

The short answer is yes, but also, no.

For the most part, marijuana laws are moving in a more progressive direction across the U.S., with several states lining up to legalize the herb either medicinally or recreationally. Still, weed’s Schedule I status and federal illegality make for some complicated boundaries, especially when you cart your weedy wares across state lines.

But what happens when you ditch land for the open sea? And what truly qualifies as the "open sea?"

According to High Times––who designate the open sea as the vast area of international waters usually 12 miles from the coast of any given country––you don’t need a passport to take your seafaring vessel into international waters, but as it turns out, it might be a good idea to bring your rec.

Basically, most boats are required to comply by the state laws in which they were registered. That means if you're on a yacht registered in California, you'll have to adhere to California state laws whether it’s docked right off the beach, or wandering into open ocean. As you probably could have guessed, the ocean itself is not governed by any one nation, or state (though that would be way trippy). So you could hypothetically set sail on a boat registered in Texas, where weed is banned, before boarding an Oregon-based party yacht miles out from the shore, and blaze the chronic with reckless abandon.

That said, it’s probably a good idea to exercise caution and common sense no matter where or with whom you’re getting high while on the high seas. To be sure, the cruise ship review site, Cruise Critic, is explicitly not down with that high life, suggesting medical marijuana users “find alternative ways to treat your illness during your cruise vacation.”